Canadian Lawyer

www.canadianlawyermag.com 5 Indigenous law scholarship award winner wants to give back to his community University of Saskatchewan law student Calvin Bricker has won the inaugural Brian A. Crane/Gowling WLG Indigenous Law Student Scholarship. The $5,000 prize stemmed from a partnership between Gowling and the school's Wiyasiwewin Mikiwahp Native Law Centre and is meant to assist Indigenous students interested in pursuing legal careers. Crane is a partner in the firm's Ottawa office with extensive experience in negotiating Indigenous land claims and was on the legal team that won the historic $1.47-billion settlement for Indigenous students who attended Federal Indian Day Schools. Bricker is Métis, from Saskatoon and attended York University where he played hockey and studied cognitive science. What made you want to study law? I really wanted to be a police officer but . . . really en- joyed education, very curious about learning more. So, the two just went together: dealing with people. But also justice. What are you interested in? I'm an Indigenous student. So, naturally, I'm drawn to some of that type of law. And then I've really been enjoying constitutional law. And then, [at the] same time, I'm really enjoying contracts, too, because there's just so many moving pieces and there's so much going on. It keeps you on your toes. You attended the University of Saskatchewan's Wiyasiwewin Mikiwahp Native Law Centre. Tell me about that program. It was a phenomenal program. The friendships you make then, also the knowledge you gain and the skills you build over that eight weeks — you grind, but, at the same time, you're creating these amazing relationships with other Indigenous students. There were 12 of us that graduated the program together and now we're all very close. You won the Brian A. Crane/Gowling WLG Indig- enous Law Student Scholarship. Does being Indig- enous affect what you do with your law career? I'm still uncertain with where I fit within law. Being Indigenous, it strives for me to set an example and then also to give back to my community. That's one of my main things going forward as a lawyer. I can only do good work and stuff like that, but I'm always going to want to give back to my community, strive to do great things and lead by example, work with others, with Indigenous communities. Manitoba and Saskatchewan judicial appointments Theodor Bock has been appointed a puisne judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba, replacing Justice Robert Dewar, has elected to become a supernumerary judge effective Oct. 2. In Saskatchewan, Naheed Bardai has been appointed a judge of the Queen's Bench for Saskatchewan, replacing Justice Guy Chicoine, who is assigned in Estevan. Chicoine has resigned effective Sept. 6. Both appointees were formerly partners at MLT Aikins LLP. Manitoba lawyer injured in bomb blast now mental health advocate Maria Mitousis lost a hand when a bomb was mailed to her office in 2015 by Guido Amsel. He was convicted of four counts of attempted murder for also sending bombs to his former wife and his own lawyer. Since returning to her practice, Mitousis has been outspoken about her experience and the mental health issues affecting lawyers and other professionals. The Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba recently presented Mitousis with the Helping Hands award. Métis Self Government conference The Métis Nations of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario gathered in Ottawa March 9 and 10 to discuss the future of Métis self-government. The organizations represent more than 200,000 Métis in those three provinces. The conference, which included Métis leaders, federal government officials, legal experts and First Nations, comes in the wake of the Métis Government Recognition and Self-Government Agreements, signed in June 2019. Q&A Calvin Bricker Law student UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN Career highlight: "The relationships I have created. I initially thought law school was going to be a lot of competitive individuals that would be reluctant to work together and only be friendly on the surface. Instead, I have made friends that we work and study all day together, and then still want to hang out after marathon study sessions." Career lowlight: "Forgoing family and friend time, especially around mid-terms and finals. I find myself only sleeping at home and having to miss out on different occasions."

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